DPWH Bares P12-B Infra Plan

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed on Wednesday, March 28, its P12-billion infrastructure development master plan to support the tourism industry in line with the “It’s more fun in the Philip-pines” banner of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The infrastructure program aimed at increasing tourists arrivals targeted at 3.9 million this year.

The DPWH said the tourism infrastructure support master plan will be implemented next year.

It said the master plan is part of its ongoing convergence programs in the implementation of various infrastructures supportive of other national government agencies’ mandate.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said in a statement that the DPWH, DOT, and private organization Research Education and Institutional Development (REID) Foundation, Inc. have established a close partnership in the identification, evaluation, prioritization, and implementation of tourism infrastructure plans in priority tourist destination areas in the Philippines in support of the goals and targets of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) and the Philippine Develop-ment Plan (PDP).

As part of the program, the DPWH has launched the “Convergence Program for Enhancing Tourism Access” to facilitate efficient and more coordinated efforts to identify, evaluate, prioritize and implement “technically-correct and politically-participative” road access projects leading to tourist destinations.

“Part of the DPWH commitment is to develop Tourism Road Infrastructure Project Prioritization Criteria (TRIPC) to serve as an implementation mechanism of RA 9593; prepare multi-year program, forward estimates, and annual tourism road infrastructure program,” said Secretary Singson.

The DOT shall initiate the drafting of the TRIPC based on the importance of tourist destination and the necessity/magnitude of the tourism roads as identified in the NTDP and subsequently consult and secure agreement of the DPWH regarding its adoption and implementation.

“The projects when completed will answer one of the demands of tourism, which is accessibility to the tourist areas. This is very important because without roads, we cannot sell our attractions,” DPWH said.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Pampanga has allotted close to P4 million for the rehabilitation of a major national road in this small town that was badly damaged by typhoons last year.

Provincial Engineer Olimpio Pangan said Gov. Lilia Pineda ordered the rehabilitation of the Sta. Ana-Magalang Road along the portion of Barangay San Agustin here.

original source: www.mb.com.ph